Method and mechanism for centrifugally separating substances



11.. D. JONES Filed Oct. '7 92 2 Sheets-Sheet l METHOD AND MEcHANfsM FOR CENTRIFUGALLY SEPARATING SUBSTANCES NW. 15, E927...

L. D. JONE$ METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR CENTRIFUGALLY SEPAR-ATING SUBSTANCES I Filed 001:. '7. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented l lov. lh, 'ldfilo I srnr tenant LEQ D. JONES,F FHILADELI PHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE SHARPLES' SPECIALTY COMPANY,

DELAWW.

0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF Application filedOctober 7, 1921. Serial No. 506,167.

'llhis invention relates more particularly to the centrifugal separation, stratificatlon and discharge of substances in conjunction with a carrier liquid, as in the separation of wax from diluted cylinder stock or petrosame through the rotor.

leum oils, in a centrifugal operation in which brine as a carrier liquid forms a stratum in the rotor between its Wall and the wax separated from the oil, the wax and the wax freed, oil being discharged separately.

lln feeding oil and a carrier liquid together into a centrifugal rotor through a single pipe or feed nozzle, it is found that an appreciable emulsification of the carrier liquid with the oil has taken place when the substances have been brought up to speed. portion of the carrier liquid remains BD'llllSl-o tied with the oil, and additional operations are necessary to remove it and to secure a finished bright stock. The emulsification oil the carrier liquid with theoil also interferes with the complete separation of the wax.

lit is a primary object of the present invention to avoid the admixture and emulsification of the carrier liquid with the oil, by introducing them separately to their respective zones, and to maintain in the rotor throughout a run thesame body of the carrier liquid with such slight additions as may Q be required .by leakage.

This invention contemplates the delivery oi the carrier liquid to the centrifugal rotor at the normal point of discharge of said carrier liquid or, in other words, at the discharge orifice communicating with the carrier liquid layer and farthest from the axis of rotation of the rotor. By supplying the carrier liquid in this manner, the rotor/is first filled with such liquid to the discharge level; and additional quantities of suchliquid supplied to the rotor are immediately discharged without causing any flow of the Only such additional quantities of the carrier liquid are retained in the rotor as are required to replace losses by leakage or such small amounts as I may be carried out by entrainment, which is thus maintained full ot such liquid up to its discharge level without substantial change therein;

The substances be separated are intrdduced independently of the carrier liquid, in' the normal manner. In the case of the separation of wax from chilled oil, a wax layer forms between the carrier liquid layer and thewax free oil layer, efl'ectually preventing the oil and carrier liquid from coming into contact.

lid

Advantages of this method of introducing carrier liquid in the removal of wax from chilled oil are, that by the avoidance of contact between the oil and the carrier liquid, the presence of carrier liquid (usually calcium chloride solution) in the discharged oil.

is avoided, and, as a consequence'ot thus avoiding the f ormat1on of emulsions, the separatlon of the wax is morecomplete and a .product having a lower cold test is obtained.

These advantages, consequent upon keeping the oil and carrier liquid from admix} ture, may be obtained by using a rotor having separate means tor feeding the carrier liquid, at the oil feeding end of the rotor, but such operation requires additional complicated construction and has the disadvantage that the carrier liquid flows continuously through the rotor as it has been found impracticable or not readily practicable to rnaintain the same body of such liquid therein. I

'An advantage of delivering the carrier liquid to the rotor at the point of dischar e,.so that such liquid does not flow throng the rotor, is that the'temperature of the delivered carrier liquid has no substantial influence upon the temperature or action of the carrier liquid in the bowl. Accordingly it can be delivered at any temperature which may be convenient or desirable. When the wax and carrier liquid are discharged through the same outlet such carrier liquid till tld

lit?

may be delivered hot to melt or partially,

meltthe wax.

The characteristic features ofthe invention are set out in detail in the following description and the accompanying drawings in illustration thereof.

In the drawings, Fig. l is a broken vertical sectional View of a centrifuge adaptedfor the practice of my invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2" of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a broken sectional view on an enlarged'scale of details of the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. i is, a broken sectional view in illustration of a modified form of the invention; and Fig. 5 is a sectional view on. the line Si -5 of Fig. 4?:-

The centrifuge illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 comprises the centrifugal bowl or rotor 1 having the neck 2 connected by the coupling 3 with the spindle 4, by which the bowl is suspended and revolved in the frame 5. l

The carrier liquid (preferably calcium chloride brine in separating wax from diluted cylinder stock) is fed from the conduit 6 into the top of the revolving bowl 1 by way of the channel 7 surrounding the neck 2 and thence through the passages 8 which extend through the neck to points adjacent to the bowl wall, such liquid being formed in a stratum or zone by centrifugal force. As the bowl, when operated at normal speed, will retain only a definite amount of a liquid of given density, such amount of carrier liquid as may be delivered from the conduit 6 to the channel 7, after the desired stratum has been formed in the bowl, will be discharged from such channel over the annular dam 9 surrounding it, the same body of carrier liquid remaining in the bowl throughout a run excepting such slight additions as may be required to replace unintentional loss as by leakage.

The substance to be separated, as chilled diluted cylinder stock containing precipitated wax, is delivered into the bowl 1 at the bottom thereof, through its axial tubular bottom boss 10, from a stationary nozzle 11.

The wax is separated from the oil by the centrifugal force and forms a stratum or zone carried by the outer or brine stratum, the wax floating off from the brine and discharging through the neck of the bowl by way of the passages 12, 13 and 14, over the annular dam or weir 15 concentric with the axis of revolution.

The oil, freed of the wax, forms an interior stratum or zone thereon and is discharged separately therefrom through the neck of the bowl, by way of the passages 16 and 17 to the channel 18 and thence over the annular dam 19 concentric with the axis of revolution.

Superposed covers 20, 21 and 22 (provided with the heating fluid chamber 23 and 24 and the heat insulating chamber 25 to facilitate the removal of the wax) are supported by the frame 5 and surround the top of the bowl in positions to receive the discharges therefrom, the cover 20 registering with the passages 14, the cover 21 with the channel 7 and the cover 22 with the channel 18.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the bowl 25 has its neck 26 encircled by a conduit 27 to which the carrier liquid is'supplied by the conduit 28 and from which such liquid is discharged through the orifices 29 to the annular channel 30 surrounding the neck of the bowl, the latter communicating through the passages 31 with the interior thereof. The carrier liquid, thus introduced into the top of the revolving bowl, forms a stratum or zone against the wall thereof throughout its length, which stratum remains constant at normal speed of revolution with a given density. Hence any additional liquid delivered from the conduit 27 to the channel 30 will be thrown out over the annular dam or weir 32 which controls the depth and amount of the carrier liquid-in the bowl. Therefore the stratum of carrier liquid thus maintained in the bowl comprises the same body throughout a given run, excepting such replacement as may be required and automatically effected by reason of any leakage.

The chilled oil containing precipitated wax is introduced into the bowl 25 (preferably through the bottom thereof as in Fig. 1) within the stratum of carrier liquid, where it is centrifugally separated. The oil freed of the wax is discharged from the bowl over the annular weir 33 and through the passages a4 and 35 to the cover 36. The separated wax, which forms a stratum between the carrier liquid and the oil from which it is separated, is discharged through the passages 31 to the channel 30 and thence over the weir 32, together with the excess of carrier liquid delivered from the orifices 29, the cover 37 receiving the discharge. The brine delivered from the channel 27 may be heated, to heat the wax discharged by way of the channel 30 and facilitate its removal from the cover 37 by preventing its adhesion therein, an insulating chamber 38 acting to retain heat in the wax cover for facilitating the discharge of the wax therefrom.

The centrifugal separation or treatment of substances, contemplated in this invention, takes place while liquid balance is maintained in the centrifugal bowl between bodies of substances to which substances are fed and from which substances or con stituents are discharged. Thus, considering as an illustrative example, the separation of wax from petroleum oil in a centrifugal operation wherein carrier liquid is employed, there will be a stratum of auxiliary or carrier liquid, which contacts with the wall of the bowl if it is heavier than the substance being treated, and in contact therewith there will be a concentric stratum containing the substance to be treated or separated, or the separated constituents thereof. The ring dam that carries the weir 33 forms with the end of the bowl an auxiliary or supplemental compartment that communicates withthe main body of the bowl by a passage between the edge of the ring dam and the inner wall of the bowl so that the ring dam has an external weir. extending out to the stratum of carrier liquid. This compartment contains carrier liquid and the wax is discharged 1 stitutes a supplemental or auxiliary body of Material within the bowl and during the feedingof material to the bowl and the dis-- chargin of material therefrom it hydraulically ba ancesthe strata of wax and oil in the main body or the bowl. Carrier liquid wax from petroleum oil which consists 1n or any auxiliary liquid that may be used for treating a substance within the bowl, passes toward the interior of the bowlthrough the passages 8 or. 31 and thereby acquires the circumferential velocity of the bowl.

in such an operation thepetroleum oil is) chilled to cause the precipitation of the wax that is to be separated therefrom. and the separated wax absorbsheat from the heating jackets 23 and 2a or from supplied carrier liquid, attention being called to the fact that the heating jackets 23 and 2d are closely adjacent the upper end of the bowl from which the wax discharges and may be used in, connection with either of the types of howl illustrated. lln the constructions shown and in obvious modifications thereof heat is supplied to the wax after its separation from the oil and prior to its discharge from the centrifugal machine or bowl, to the end that the war will he suficiently fluid to ensure dtl continuous operation of the separating process, such a state being referred to as a molten state, i

} Having described my invention, it claim:

1. The method of centrifugally separating substances which consists in delivering a heavier carrier "liquid and the substances to he separated independently to outer and inner zones respectively of the centrifugal rotor, stratifying said carrier liquid and substances to he separated, and holding the bulk of said carrier liquid in the rotor and searating and separately discharging the su'stances to be separated.

2. The method of centrifugally separating substances which consists in providing and holding a stratum of carrier liquid within the centrifugal rotor, delivering the substances to be separated within said stratum without admixture therewith, eentrifugally separating said substances and separately discharging the separated substances without discharging the carrier liquid.

3. llhe method of centrifugally separating substances which consists in delivering a carrier liquid against the wall of the centrifuga l rotor at the normal discharge end there of and centrifugally forming a stratum of said liquid having an inwardly exposed surface substantially throughout thelength of the.. rotor, and delivering the substances to he separated within said stratum at the other end of said rotor.

at The method of centrifugally separatr aaarir livery of carrier liquid to a stratum thereof maintained within that portion of a centrifugal rotor in which the separation is centrifugally effected, by assing the carrier liquid into the normal dlscharging point for the same. I

71 In the centrifugal separation of sub stances'with the aid of a carrier liquid, the method of maintaining a constantdevel of the carrier li uid in the rotor which consists I in continuous y feeding the carrier liquid to therotor at the natural place ofdischarge for the same.

8. in the centrifugal separation of substances comprising an adhesive constituent, the method which consists in maintaining a stratum of carrier liquid in that portion of the centrifugal rotor in which separation is effected, and delivering carrier or auxiliary liquid to the centrifugal rotor at the place of discharge of said constituent,

ing a revoluble bowl for the separation of substances and having a discharge passage and means for delivering a carrier liquid to said howl through said discharge passage into that portion of said bowl wherein separation is edectedu r p 11. The centrifugal mechanism comprising a revoluble bowl having means whereby a substance to be separated is delivered within one end thereof and passages comprising an annular channel at the other end thereof for discharging the separated constit- Mill [ill

uents, in combination with a conduit having means for delivering a carrier liquid to said bowl through said channel.

12. A centrifugal bowl separator comprising a bowl and means for rotating same, an inlet for fluent material to a main compartment of said bowl, a plurality of outlets at one end, spaced apart, an auxiliary compartment of the centrifugal howl separator located at the outlet end thereof and communicating with said main compartment at a radially outer point thereof. means for passing one of the products of centrifugal treatment from the main compartment of said bowl into said auxiliary compartment,

and separate means for injecting another liquid into the said auxiliary compartment into contact with said product.

13. A process of treating hydrocarbonoil containing components which at relatively low temperatures above the solidifying point of other desirable components of the oil, will exist in a solid state which comprises adding a solvent of the oil, continuously introducing the solution of oil into a rapidly rotating centrifugal bowl in which is provided a substantially non-progressing liquid carrier immiscible with the oil and solvent, whereby stratification is effected and the solution of oil and solvent forms one stratum and drawing off such stratum, and separately removing from such bowl the material which is not readily soluble in the oil-solvent solution.

14. The method of centrifugally treating asubstance which comprises maintaining under the influence of centrifugal force a body of the substance or its constituents in liquid balance with a body of carrier or auxiliary liquid, centrifugally separating and separately discharging parts of the substance, and feeding carrier or auxiliary liquid to said body thereof adjacent the normal place of discharge thereof.

15. A process of treating lubricating oil containing waxy constituents, which comprises passing a refrigerated mixture of solvent and such oil into a high speed centrifugal liquid separator, while the rotating bowl of said centrifugal contains carrier liquid stationary relatively thereto which is nonmiscible with the lubricating oil and while the solution of lubricating oil is at a temperature low enough to cause solidification of the waxy constituents, whereby said waxy constituents are caused to precipitate and to be forced out of contact with the lubricating oil, then heating the so separated wax, while still within the confines of the centrifugal, but out of contact with the lubricating oil, whereby the same is melted, and discharging'the same from the centrifugal in a molten state.

16. A rocess of treating viscous lubricating 011 containing waxy constituents which comprises maintaining in the rotating bowl of a centrifugal liquid separator, 21 substantially non-progressing layer of a carrier liquid immiscible with said oil, introducing into said bowl a refrigerated mixture containing the lubricating oil and a liquid which is a good solvent for the oil but which is not, at low temperatures, a good solvent of waxes, rapidly rotating the carrier liquid and oil, whereby the waxes largely separate from the oil upon the carrier liquid, feeding refrigerated mixture of such oil and solvent continuously to one end of said howl, whereby the said oil and solvent and said waxes progressively travel toward the other end of the said bowl, drawing the waxes into a separate con'ipartment of the centrifugal, while separately drawing ott' the oil and solvent from said bowl, melting the waxes in said separate compartment .and discharging the same in a molten state from said centrifugal.

17. The method which consists in centrifugally separating wax from petroleum, separately discharging the separated wax and wax-freed oil, and supplying carrier liquid at the wax outlet of the centrifugal bowl and heating the wax discharged.

18. A centrifugal bowl separator comprising a bowl and means for rotating same, an inlet for fluent material to a main compartment of said bowl, a plurality of outlets at one end, spaced apart, an auxiliary compartment of the centrifugal bowl separator located at the outlet end thereof, means for passing the heavier of the products of centrifugal treatment from the main compartment of said bowl into said auxiliary compartment, and separate means for injecting another liquid into the said aux-' iliary compartment into contact with said product.

19. In a centrifugal machine, a vertical .bowl, internal and external dams near the upper part of the bowl, the said external dam forming a compartment in the upper portion of the bowl, said portion having an outlet nearer to the axis of rotation than said external dam, means for directing a jet of liquid into said last mentioned outlet.

20. In a centrifugal machine, a vertical bowl, .internal and external dams near the upper part of the bowl, the said external dam forming a compartment in the upper portion of the bowl, said portion having an outlet nearer to the axis of rotation than saidexternal dam, means for directing a jet of liquid into said last mentioned outlet and means for imparting circumferential velocity to said fluid before the same reaches the interior of said compartment.

21. The method of treating a substance which consists in introducing the substance into the revolving rotor of a centrifugal machine, discharging a part'of said substance,

nee n't and introducing an auxiliary into 'the interior of the rotor at a point adjacent the point therein at which said part is discharged therefrom While maintaining the contents of the rotor in liquid balance.

22. The method ,oftreating a substance which consists in introducing it into the revolving rotor of a centrifugal machine to separate it into its constituents, discharging one of said constituents while bringing an auxiliary into contact therewith after its separation from the substance and prior to its discharge and maintaining the contents of the rotor in liquid balance.

23. A centrifugal bowl separator comprising a bowl mounted for rotation and having an inlet fora substance to be oentrifugally treated, and a main compartment and an auxiliary compartment communicating adjacent the inner periphery of the bowl, said bowl having an openingleading from said auxiliary compartment and comprising a weir determining the level of liquid therein, and means for feeding carrier or auxiliary liquid to said opening. p

24. The method of treating a substance which consists in introducing the substance into the revolving rotor of a centrifugal machine to separate it into its'constituents and discharging said constituents separately while separately introducing an auxiliary into the rotor and bringing it into contact with one of said separated constituents at a point adjacent that at which said constituent is discharged and discharging said aux iliary with said constituent.

25. The method of treating a substance which consists in subjecting the substance to the influence of centrifugal force, withdrawing a part of the substance into a supplemental body also under the influence of-said centrifugal force and in liquid balance with I the main body of substance that ls under the influence of centrifugal force, discharging said part from said body, and introducing an auxiliary into said body at a point adjacent the point thereof from which said part discharges.

26. The method of treating a substance which consists in maintaining within the re volving rotor of a centrifugal machine a body of auxiliary or carrier material, introducing the substance in the rotor and maintaining it in liquid balance with said auxiliary or carrier material andseparating it into its constituents, discharging said eonstituents from the rotor separately from each other, and introducing auxiliary or carrier liquid to said body thereof at a point adjacent the discharge of one of said constituents.

'27. The method of treating a substance which consists in maintaining within the revolving rotor of a centrifugal machine a body of auxiliary or carrier material, introducing the substance into the rotor to eflect separation of its constituents and maintainmg the substance and its constituents in i liquid balance with said auxiliary'or carrier material, and separately v discharging said constituents from the contents of the rotor while introducing auxiliary or carrier into said body thereof at a point adjacent the discharge of one of said constituents anddischarging carrier or auxiliary from the rotor with said lastnamed constituent/ 28. The method of treating a substance which consists in maintaininga main body thereof within the revolving rotor of a cen' trifugal machine and subjecting it to centrifugal force to separate out one of its constituents, maintaining a supplemental body within said rotor and in liquid balance with the main body of the substance and its constituents thatis under the influence of centrifugal force, separately passing said con-' stituent from said main body and introducing an auxiliary substance into said supplemental body, and discharging said constituent and auxiliary from the rotor together. v 29. The method of treating a substance which consists in maintaining a main body as a thereof and a supplemental body in liquid 2' body and separately, introducing an auxiliary substance into said supplemental body, and discharging said part and auxiliary together from the rotor. 80. The method of treating a substance which consists in maintaining within the revolving. rotor of a centrifugal machine a body of auxiliary material some part of which is substantlally non-progressing with respect to said rotor, introducing the sub stance to said rotor to efi'ect its separation into its constituents, and separately discharging said constituents while introducing auxiliary into said body thereof at a point adjacent the discharge of one of said constituents. 31. The method of treating a substance whichconsists in maintaining within the revolving rotor of a centrifugal machine a into its constituents, maintaining the contents of the rotor in liquid balance, and

separately and continuously discharging said constituents.v

32. The method of treating a substance which consists in maintaining within the revolving ,rotor of a centrifugal machine a body of auxiliary material some part of which is substantiallynon-progressing with respect to said rotor, introducing the suba point adjacent the discharge of one of stance to said rotor to effect its separation into its constituents, and separately discharging said constituents while introducing auxiliary directly into said body thereof at a point adjacent the point at which said auxiliary is discharged.

33. The method of treating a substance which consists in maintaining within the revolving rotor of a centrifugal machine a body of auxiliary material some part of which is substantially non-progressing with respect to said rotor, introducing the substance to said rotor to effect its separation into its constituents, discharging said constituents separately from one another, introducing auxiliary to said body thereof at said constituents, and discharging auxiliary with one of said constituents. A

34. The method of treating a substance which comprises subjecting a body thereof to centrifugal force to separate out one constituent thereof, separately discharging said constituent, and heating said constituent prior to its discharge.

35. The method of treating a substance which consists in maintaining a main body thereof and a supplemental body within the revolving rotor of a centrifugal machine, passing a part of the substance from the main body to the supplemental body under the influence of centrifugal force, and discharging said part from said supplemental body while supplying heat to said supplemental body.

36. The method of centrifugally treating substances which consists in maintaining within a centrifugal bowl separate concentric contacting strata of a substance to be treated centrifugally and a carrier or auxiliary liquid, feeding the substance to be treated to its stratum without admixture with the carrier or auxiliary liquid, feeding the carrier or auxiliary liquid to and discharging it from substantially the same point of the body thereof within the bowl, and thereby maintaining the stratum of carrier or auxiliary liquid substantially non-progressing, and discharging the substance from its stratum.

37. The method of centrifugally separating substances which consists in delivering the substance and a carrier or auxiliary liquid separately to their proper zones in a centrifugal rotor without admixture of the one with the other, separating the substance into its constiutents and discharging said constituents separately from each other, and withdrawing carrier or auxiliary liquid from its zone at substantially the point at which it is delivered thereto and thereby maintaining in the zone of the carrier or auxiliary liquid a substantially non-progressing stratum thereof.

38. The method of centrifugally separatuid and another of saidstrata comprising the constituents of the substance to be separated, separately feeding the substance to its stratum without admixture with carrier or auxiliary liquid, feeding the auxiliary or carrier liquid to the body thereof at one end thereof and from the same end thereof discharging carrier or auxiliary liquid from the body thereof and thereby maintaining the stratum of carrier or auxiliary liquid substantially non-progressing, and discharging the separated constituents of said substance separately from each other.

39. The method of centrifugally separating a substance into its constituents which comprises maintaining within a centrifugal bowl contacting concentric strata, one of said strata consisting of carrier or auxiliary liquid and another of said strata comprising the constituents of the substance to be separated, separately feeding the substance to its stratum without admixture with the carrier or auxiliary liquid, discharging the centrifugally separated constituents of said substance separately from each other, feeding the auxiliary or carrier liquid to the body thereof at one end thereof and at the same end thereof discharging carrier or auxiliary liquid from the body thereof together with one of the centrifugally separated constituents of said substance.

40. The method of centrifugally separating substances which consists in maintaining within a rotating centrifugal bowl a stratum of carrier or auxiliary liquid, separately feeding the substance to be separated to a stratum thereof within the bowl that is concentric to and in contact with said first named stratum, separating the substance into its constituents and discharging said constituents separately from each other, one of said constituents being discharged through the body of carrier or auxiliary liquid and from the bowl, and feeding carrier liquid to the body thereof only at the point at which said last named constituent is discharged and thereby maintaining said stratum of carrier or auxiliary liquid non-progressing.

41. The method of centrifugally separating substances which comprises, maintaining within a centrifugal bowl concentric contacting strata, a first one of said strata consisting of carrier or auxiliary liquid and a second one of said strata comprising the constituents of substance to be separated,- feeding the substance without admixture with the carrier or auxiliary liquid to said second stratum at one 'end thereof and separating the substance into its constituents, discharging one of said constituents from said second stratum at the other end thereof, and at subneaaiir of said constituents and excess carrier or auxiliary liquid and thereby maintaining said stratum of carrier or auxiliary liquid substantially non-progressing in the bowl 42. 'llhe method of centrifugally separatmg substances which comprises, maintaining within a centrifugal bowl concentric contacting' strata, a first one of said strata consisting of carrier or auxiliary liquid and a" second oneof said strata comprising the constituents of the substance to be separated, feeding the substance without admixture with the carrier or auxiliary liquid to said second stratum at one end thereof and sepia-' rating the substance into its constituents, discharging one of said constituents from said precipitating the wax therein by chilling,

maintaining within a centrifugal rotor con.- tacting concentric strata, one of which consists of carrier or auxiliary liquid and the other of which consists of.oil and wax, separately feeding the, chilled oil containing precipitated wax to its stratum and centr1fugally separating the wax from the ,oil, withdrawingthe separated Wax into a supplemental body also under the influence of centrifugal force, discharging the waxfrom said body, feeding auxiliary or carrier liquid to said body at substantially the point thereof from which said Wax discharges and thereby maintaining substantially non-progressing the stratum of carrier or auxiliary liquid,

and separately discharging the wax-free oil.

from petroleum oil with the aid of a carrier 47. In the centrifugal separation of wax second stratumlat the other end thereof, and liquid, the method of maintaining a constant at-the end of the body of carrier or auxiliary liquid, which is adjacent said end of said second stratum from which a. constituent is discharged, feeding carrier or auxiliary liquid to said body of carrier or auxiliary liquid and discharging excess carrier or auxiliary liquid therefrom together with another of said constituents.

43. In the method of centrifugally treat ing or separating substances, Wvherein'a carrier or auxiliary liquid is maintained within a the centrifugal bowl in contact with and concentric to the stratum to which the substance is fed the step comprisingfeeding carrier or auxiliary liquid to the body thereof at the normal point of discharge thereof,

tated wax into the revolving rotor Within the layer of carrier liquid therein, .centri fugally separating and separately discharging the wax and oil, and delivering carrier or auxiliary liquid into the wax discharge of the 4:5. The method of centrifugally' separating wax from petroleum oil which consists in precipitating the wax therein by chilling, maintaining within a rotating centrifugal bowl contacting concentric strata, one of which consists of carrier liquid and'the other of which containsthe wax and oil, feeding the chilled oil containing precipitatedwax to its stratum and centrifugally separating the wax from the oil, feeding auxiliary or carrier liquid to the body thereof at one end separating ingredients the heavier of which thereof and from the same end thereof discharging carrier or auxiliary liquid and the separated wax together, and separately discharging the separated oil.

46. The method of centrifugally separatlevel of carrier liquid in a centrifugal rotor which consists in feeding the carrier or auxil iary liquid at the natural place for the dis-" charge of carrier or auxiliary liquid.

48. In the process of centrifugally sepa rating wax from petroleum oil bythe method involving the precipitation of the wax therein by chilling and the centrifugal separation of precipitated wax from the oil by treat- *ment in a centrifugal ropor in which carrier liquid is employed, and the wax and oil are dischargedv separately from' each other, the herein describedstep of directing carrier or auxiliary liquid into the wax outlet of the centrifugal rotor;

49. A. centrifugal bowl separator comprising a bowl mounted for rotation and having fill) an inlet for a substance to be centrifugally I treated, a main compartment and auxiliary compartment communicating adjacent the inner periphery of the bowl, and a passage leading from said auxiliary compartment for y the discharge of a substance from the bowl,

and means injecting carrier or auxiliary liquid into said passage.

50., A centrifugal bowl separator compris ing a bowl mounted for rotation having an inlet for a substance to be centrifugally treated, a main compartment and auxiliary compartment communicating adjacent the inner periphery of the bowl, and a passage leading from said auxiliary compartment for the discharge of a substance from the bowl, and means for heating a substance passing through said passage during its discharge J from the bowl.

51. The combination of a centrifugal bowl provided with a separating compartment for 3 is resistant to flow and having separate out letsfor said ingredient, means providing a discharge passage opening at one end to the peripheral part, of said separating compartment and at the other end to the outlet for ing wax from petroleum oil which consists in the heavier liquid, and means to heat said passage to a temperature above that within the separating compartment.

52. The combination of a centrifugal bowl provided with a separating compartment for separating ingredients the heavier of which is resistant to flow and having separate outlets for said ingredient, means providing a discharge passage opening at one end to the peripheral part of said separating compartment and at the other end to the outlet for the heavier liquid, and means maintaining a heated heating medium in heat exchange relation with a substance in said passage.

A centrifugal bowl separator comprising a bowl mounted for rotation and having an inlet and a passage leading from a point adjacent the inner periphery of the bowl to a radially inward point for the discharge of a substance from the bowl, and means for maintaining a heated heating medium in heat exchange relation with a substance discharg ing through said passage. v

54. In a method of centrifugally separating wax from petroleum oil, the steps comprising precipitating Wax in the oil by chilling, subjecting the chilled oil containing precipitated wax to centrifugal force and thereby separating wax from the oil while maintaining a body of carrier liquid within the influence of centrifugal force together with the wax and oil, discharging the Wax separately from the oil, and introducing unrefrigerated carrier liquid to the substances under the influence of centrifugal force at a point thereof adjacent the point atwhich the wax discharges therefrom.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name this 4th day of October, 1921.

LEO D. JONES 

